Abdominal Adiposity Is Associated With Elevated C-Reactive Protein Independent of BMI in Healthy Nonobese People

OBJECTIVE There is debate over the most appropriate adiposity markers of obesity-associated health risks. We evaluated the relationship between fat distribution and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), independent of total adiposity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We studied 350 people with abdominal adiposity (waist-to-hip ratio [WHR] > or =0.9 in male and > or =0.85 in female subjects) and 199 control subjects (WHR <0.9 in male and <0.85 in female subjects) matched for BMI and age. We measured hs-CRP and major cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS Participants with abdominal adiposity had BMI similar to that in control subjects (24.8 +/- 2.5 vs. 24.7 +/- 2.2 kg/m(2), respectively), but significantly higher waist circumference (96.4 +/- 6.0 vs. 83.3 +/- 6.7 cm; P < 0.01) and WHR (1.07 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.85 +/- 0.05; P < 0.001). Compared with the control subjects, participants with abdominal adiposity had an adverse cardiovascular risk factor profile, significantly higher hs-CRP (1.96 +/- 2.60 vs. 1.53 +/- 1.74 mg/dl; P < 0.01), and a twofold prevalence of elevated CRP values (>3 mg/dl). CONCLUSIONS In nonobese people, moderate abdominal adiposity is associated with markers of subclinical inflammation independent of BMI.